Regional authorities have said that aid will be provided for the affected people. In accordance with the legislation, all the possibilities will be used to provide aid, said Acting Governor Vladimir Vladimirov. He expressed sincere condolences to the families of the victims. "I am sure the crime will be thoroughly investigated and those involved will be brought to justice," he said.

The situation in Pyatigorsk is under his personal control, the governor's press service added.

According to the preliminary information, the explosion killed two residents of Georgiyevsk and a Pyatigorsk resident. The blast power was equivalent to 50 kg of TNT, law-enforcement sources said.

The National Antiterrorism Committee told Itar-Tass earlier that a parked car was blasted with an explosive device at a parking lot near a furniture store apposite a traffic police station in Pyatigorsk at 19:15 Moscow time on Friday. It was a homemade explosive device without a cover. The blast killed three people.

Besides, a fire broke out at a market in Pyatigorsk overnight. More than 80 stalls and containers with goods burned up. About 1,500 sq m were ablaze. Nobody was hurt.